Football Concussion Injuries: Who’s Liable?

Injured Player — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Read the blog from Frank Penney Injury Lawyers in Roseville, CA below.

Football fans may have heard about the many legal battles fought against the NFL and NCAA this year and in very recent years. Concussions and other brain injury accidents are very common among athletes, so where did the controversy come from?

Awareness of a progressive degenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) began in the mid-1990s. CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head, such as those that occur in football, boxing, and rugby. Symptoms typically appear 8-10 years after the period of head trauma and include:

memory loss
confusion
impaired judgment
loss of impulse control
aggression
depression/suicide
anxiety
progressive dementia

Since the disease is definitively diagnosed post-mortem, knowledge of its prevalence has unfolded gradually.

In late 2014, researchers with Boston University announced that in autopsies of 79 brains of former NFL players, 76 had tested positive for CTE. As of November 2016, 90 of 94 former NFL players had been diagnosed post-mortem with CTE.

Football Match — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Ongoing Football Game — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Brain Injury Risks May Have Been Covered Up

In 1994, the NFL formed the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Committee for the purpose of studying the effects of concussions and sub-concussive injuries in NFL players. However, the chair of the committee was admittedly under-qualified and the collected data was discovered to be “deeply flawed“.

The NFL ended a class-action lawsuit brought by 4,500 personal injury claims with a $900 million settlement. Their willingness to settle out of court for such a high amount has led many to speculate what other incriminating information might have been uncovered in court.

Justice for Brain Injury Accident Victims

There are still numerous lawsuits pending against the NCAA. It’s alleged that schools and conferences have known for years about the harmful long-term effects of sports-related concussions, but concealed the information in order to maintain a high profit. They have been accused of encouraging players to return to the game after suffering concussions.

Though players must typically sign a release acknowledging the dangers of high-contact sports, “waivers of liability and releases don’t relieve a proprietor from liability due to wanton or willful misconduct”, to paraphrase a judge in this article.

Players Paying Respect — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Player Wearing a Helmet — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Is Your Child at Risk for a Sports-Related Concussion?

Unfortunately, concussions are extremely common with high school athletes who suffer thousands of them every year. Football accounts for 47 percent of all reported high school sports concussions, with ice hockey and soccer following up.

The Center for Disease Control researched and released the following concussion-related statistics:

3,800,000 concussions were reported in 2012, double what was reported in 2002
33% of all sports concussions happen at practice
1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a sports concussion during the season
33% of high school athletes who have a sports concussion report two or more in the same year
4 to 5 million concussions occur annually, with rising numbers among middle school athletes

A concussion is identified when the individual’s mental status changes as a result of trauma (usually a blow to the head). A person who shows signs of mental confusion has likely suffered a concussion. Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include:

Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event
Dizziness or “seeing stars”
Ringing in the ears
Nausea, vomiting
Slurred speech
Delayed response to questions
Temporary loss of consciousness
Appearing dazed
Fatigue

Player Suffering in Pain — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

When a concussion is suspected, the symptoms should not be ignored. Do not allow your child to return to play until he or she has been medically evaluated by a qualified health care professional.

If you or your child has already suffered from a sports-related injury, it may have been due to negligence on the part of the school, the conference, or the coach. Contact our office for a free consultation with an experienced brain accident lawyer.

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Driver Seriously Injured in Highway 99 Crash Near Fresno Street

By Frank Penney • June 11, 2025

A driver was seriously injured Saturday evening in a crash on Highway 99 near Fresno Street, according to the California Highway Patrol. The incident occurred on the southbound shoulder of the highway, where a commercial big rig had pulled over due to mechanical issues. As the truck sat stopped on the shoulder, a Ford Taurus traveling at high speed veered onto the same shoulder and slammed into the back of the trailer. Authorities say the Taurus appeared to be driving recklessly before the collision. The impact left the car heavily damaged, and the driver—who was not wearing a seatbelt—was rushed to a local hospital with major injuries. “Our hearts go out to the injured driver,” the CHP said in a statement. “This incident serves as a stark reminder that excessive speed and reckless behavior can have devastating consequences.” The CHP is using the crash as an opportunity to remind all motorists to drive responsibly, follow traffic laws, and always wear a seatbelt. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.

Innocent Bystander Killed in Multi-Car Crash After Police Chase in Sacramento

By Frank Penney • June 11, 2025

A tragic series of events unfolded Saturday morning in Sacramento when a police pursuit ended in a seven-vehicle collision that killed an innocent bystander. The crash occurred at the busy intersection of Florin Road and Greenhaven Drive. The incident began around 10:15 a.m. when Sacramento police received a call from a woman requesting assistance in retrieving her belongings from a home on Farm Dale Way. She expressed concern that her former partner, a known domestic violence suspect, might be present at the residence. Officers recognized the location from a prior domestic violence call the previous weekend. At that time, the suspect, Daniel Cunningham, 33, had already fled before officers arrived. During the ongoing investigation, police developed probable cause to believe that Cunningham had committed felony domestic violence. He was also identified as a parolee at large with an outstanding warrant. On Saturday, officers located Cunningham in a vehicle, which led to a high-speed chase heading westbound on Florin Road. The pursuit ended abruptly when Cunningham’s vehicle crashed into multiple cars at the Florin and Greenhaven intersection. According to police, the pursuit was short and officers had lost visual contact with Cunningham's vehicle just prior to the collision. Following the crash, Cunningham attempted to escape on foot but was quickly apprehended with the assistance of a police K-9. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being booked. Tragically, the crash claimed the life of 30-year-old Huyn Huu Duc Nguyen of Elk Grove, a bystander with no connection to the suspect. Details on other possible injuries, including whether children were involved, have not yet been confirmed. Sacramento Police spokesperson Anthony Gamble stated, “Our officers had the obligation to bring this person to justice. He made the decision to run. He made the decision to drive at a high rate of speed. He put himself and everybody else’s lives in danger by his actions and he caused this collision that took the life of somebody who was not involved in this whatsoever.” The California Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation into the crash itself. Cunningham faces multiple charges including parole violation, felony domestic violence, and felony evasion. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.

Sacramento Woman Killed in Tragic Parking Lot Accident at Bel Air Grocery Store

By Frank Penney • June 5, 2025

A tragic accident in Sacramento claimed the life of a woman on Tuesday evening, June 3, in the parking lot of a Bel Air grocery store on Rush River Drive. Around 6 p.m., Sacramento Police responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle. When officers arrived, they found a woman pinned between two vehicles with severe injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later identified the victim as 36-year-old Linda Angelica Tracy, a Sacramento resident. According to police, she appears to have been the one operating her own vehicle when it accidentally struck and pinned her between another parked car. Two children were inside her vehicle at the time of the incident but were unharmed. The cause of the crash remains unclear, though investigators confirmed it was not a hit-and-run. Linda’s death has been officially classified as a motor vehicle accident by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. Her passing has left a deep void in the lives of those who knew and loved her. In a statement released by her family, Linda was remembered as “an exceptional mother and friend, who constantly put her family and community first.” They described her as someone who never hesitated to take on difficult and thankless tasks. A dedicated Girl Scout troop leader, school fundraiser, and the kind of parent always present for games, birthdays, and play dates, Linda was known for running a tight ship at home and for her love of planning family adventures. Soft-spoken but fiercely loyal, her family said she was the kind of person you wanted in your corner during tough times, someone who would do anything to protect the people she loved. The incident remains under investigation. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.

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